The state of New York is planning to significantly shrink or close University Hospital at Downstate in New York City's Brooklyn borough, The New York Times reported Jan. 20.
Closing the inpatient services at SUNY Downstate will free up state funds to build an ASC, a new urgent care center and increase primary care, SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. told the newspaper.
The facility, New York's only state-run medical hospital, has faced low patient enrollment and an annual operating deficit of $100 million. There are neighboring medical centers, so the Brooklyn neighborhood would not be left without inpatient care, the report said.
Mr. King said the proposed changes will "strengthen" Downstate overall and lead "to increased care" in central Brooklyn, home to many low-income residents.
SUNY has "weathered years of financial instability and seen many of its facilities fall into disrepair, jeopardizing the viability of our hospital facility," Mr. King told told Becker's in a statement.